Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer readable medium storing program for information processing

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes a receiver unit that receives record information related to a record, the record including information about an item and time and date information about time and date on which the item has been preformed, a classifying unit that classifies the received record information into at least one of multiple series, a standard event specifying unit that specifies a standard event on a per series basis, the standard event serving as a standard in the generation of a structure, a structuring unit that performs a structuring operation on the classified record information in accordance with the standard event specified by the standard event specifying unit, a pattern extraction unit that extracts a common pattern from multiple pieces of record information that are structured in the structuring operation of the structuring unit, and an output unit that outputs the pattern extracted by the pattern extraction unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-106939 filed May 12, 2011.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, and a computer readable medium storing aprogram for information processing.

(ii) Related Art

Information processing techniques are available to process recordinformation including information about an item and time and dateinformation on time and date on which the item has been performed.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus. The information processing apparatusincludes a receiver unit that receives record information related to arecord, the record including information about an item and time and dateinformation about time and date on which the item has been preformed, aclassifying unit that classifies the record information received by thereceiver unit into at least one of multiple series, a standard eventspecifying unit that specifies a standard event on a per series basis,the standard event serving as a standard in the generation of astructure, a structuring unit that performs a structuring operation onthe record information classified by the classifying unit in accordancewith the standard event specified by the standard event specifying unit,a pattern extraction unit that extracts a common pattern from multiplepieces of record information that are structured in the structuringoperation of the structuring unit, and an output unit that outputs thepattern extracted by the pattern extraction unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a module configuration of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process of the exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate record information received by a recordinformation receiving module;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a first structuring process of a series 1 ofa case a;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a second structuring process of a series 2 ofthe case a;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a third structuring process of a series 3 ofthe case a;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a first structuring process of a series 1 ofa case b;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a second structuring process of a series 2 ofthe case b;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a third structuring process of a series 3 ofthe case b;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a first structuring process of a series 1of a case c;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a second structuring process of a series 2of the case c;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a third structuring process of a series 3of the case c;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a pattern extracted from the series 1;

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a pattern extracted from the series 2;

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a pattern extracted from the series 3;

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of the pattern extracted from the series3;

FIG. 17 illustrates process information resulting from linking standardevent information;

FIG. 18 illustrates process information resulting from linking thestandard event information; and

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware structure of acomputer implementing the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual module configuration of the exemplaryembodiment.

The word “module” refers to a generally logically separable softwareelement (such as a computer program) or a component as a hardwareelement. The module of each exemplary embodiment refers to not only amodule in a computer program but also a module in a hardware structure.The discussion of the exemplary embodiments also serves as thediscussion of computer programs for causing the modules to function(including a program that causes a computer to execute each step, aprogram that causes the computer to function as an element, and aprogram that causes the computer to implement each function), a systemand a method. In the discussion that follows, the phrases “storesinformation,” “causes information to be stored,” and other phrasesequivalent thereto are used. If an exemplary embodiment is a computerprogram, these phrases are intended to express “causes a memory deviceto store information” or “controls a memory device to cause the memorydevice to store information.” The modules may correspond to thefunctions in a one-to-one correspondence. In a software implementation,one module may be composed of one program or multiple modules may becomposed of one program. One module may be composed of multipleprograms. Multiple modules may be executed by a single computer. Asingle module may be executed by multiple computers in a distributedenvironment or a parallel environment. One module may include anothermodule. In the discussion that follows, the word “connection” refers tonot only a physical connection but also a logical connection (such as anexchange of data, instructions, and data reference relationship). Theword “predetermined” means that something is decided in advance of aprocess of interest. The word “predetermined” is thus intended to referto something that is decided in advance of a process of interest in theexemplary embodiment. Even after a process in the exemplary embodimenthas started, the word “predetermined” refers to something that isdecided in advance of a process of interest depending on a condition ora status of the exemplary embodiment at the present point of time ordepending on a condition or status heretofore continuing down to thepresent point of time.

The word “system” and the word “apparatus” refer to an arrangement wheremultiple computers, a hardware structure, and an apparatus areinterconnected via a communication network (including a one-to-onecommunication connection). The word “system” and the word “apparatus”also refer to an arrangement that includes a single computer, a hardwarestructure, and an apparatus. The word “system” and the word “apparatus”have the same definition and are interchangeable with each other. Thesystem in the context of the exemplary embodiment does not include asocial system that is a social arrangement formulated by humans.

At each process performed by a module, or at one of the processesperformed by a module, information as a process target is read from amemory device, the information is then processed, and the processresults are then written onto the memory device. A description of thereading of the information from the memory device prior to the processand the writing of the processed information onto the memory devicesubsequent to the process may be omitted as appropriate. The memorydevices may include a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), anexternal storage medium, a memory device connected via a communicationline, and a register within a central processing unit (CPU).

Record information to be herein handled is mainly record informationthat is managed in medical institutions. The exemplary embodiment isthus directed to an analysis assisting system that extracts informationthrough analysis from the record information of medical care andmedication.

Related art is discussed for easy understanding of the exemplaryembodiment. Several medical institutions are reviewing diagnosticprocess in order to improve the quality of diagnosis and assure thesoundness in the management of the institution. The institutions aredifferent in terms of condition, for example, in terms of the agedistribution of the patients and area characteristics, and thediagnostic process is thus different from institution to institution.The medical process is to be improved and standardized in view of thesituation of each medical institution. To this end, in-depth study isperformed on the diagnostic process currently in operation.

The diagnostic process is typically complex. Even if the range of thediagnostic process is narrowed to disease and operation, studying eachcase and grasping the entire picture of the diagnostic process are verydifficult. A technique of getting the overview of the diagnostic processperformed on multiple cases is available. In accordance with thetechnique, medical records are plotted in a matrix of two axes of itemand time and date of the item, and the frequency of occurrence of eachitem in the records is studied.

This technique has difficulty in coping with the case in which the dateof each item suffers from fluctuations. A technique of coping with thecase in which the date of each item suffers from fluctuations is alsoavailable. In this technique, the frequency of occurrence is representedby a distribution function in the direction of time and date, andcounting is obtained through integration calculation. The date ofimplementation is handled in an unclear fashion, and a medicationprocess in an unlikely order may be extracted in some cases. If thepermissible range of the fluctuations in the implementation date may bewidened to one day or longer, workload is increased. The possibilitythat a diagnostic process in a non-existent order is extracted isincreased. It is difficult to cope with the case in which the date ofthe item suffers from fluctuations.

The case in which the time and date of the item suffers fromfluctuations refers to the case that the time and date on which the itemis to be implemented is unfixed. For example, the actual implementationtime and date may be different from the scheduled implementation timeand date. The implementation time and date may not be scheduled, and theitem may be implemented depending on the situation. These two cases alsofall within the range of the case in which the time and date of the itemsuffers from fluctuations. More specifically, the item is implementeddepending on patient and situation. Given the same medical treatment,the implementation time and date may be different on a differentpatient. The number of implementations of the item may also bedifferent.

An information processing apparatus of the exemplary embodiment extractsa pattern from the record information. As illustrated in FIG. 1, theinformation processing apparatus includes control module 105, recordinformation receiving module 110, series classifying module 120,structuring information storage module 130, structuring module 140,standard event specifying module 150, pattern extraction module 160,pattern storage module 170, standard event linking module 180, andoutput module 190.

The control module 105 controls a process order, and data exchanging ofeach module.

The record information receiving module 110 is connected to the seriesclassifying module 120. The record information receiving module 110receives record information related to a record of information of anitem and time and date information of time and date on which the itemhas been performed. The record information includes at least the itemand time and date information. The item refers to a name of a specificprocess such as an operation, a treatment, an examination, and aprescription of medicine, performed by a medical institution. The itemsmay be classified into a series (the series is described below). Thetime and date information of the time and date on which the item hasbeen performed is also received in map with the item. The time and dateinformation may include not only information of the time and date, butalso information of the year, the month, the minute, the second, and anamount of time shorter than the second. Conversely, the time and dateinformation may only include information of the date or the hour. Thetime and date may be information indicative of an anteroposteriorrelationship between items, or an interval from the implementation timeand date of any given item.

The record information receiving module 110 may receive the recordinginformation in response to an operation input entered by a user on auser interface such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpanel or the like.The record information receiving module 110 may read the recordinformation via a communication line from a data source stored on apredetermined data server.

The series classifying module 120 is connected to the record informationreceiving module 110 and the structuring module 140. The seriesclassifying module 120 classifies the record information received by therecord information receiving module 110 into at least one series. Theseries is a type in accordance with which the record information isclassified. For example, the series include an operation, a treatment,an examination, and a medication.

The classifying refers to an operation of assigning the recordinformation to at least one series. The record information is classifiedto any of the series, and the record information and the series may havea relationship of 1 to N (N is an integer of 1 or higher). For example,the record information may be classified to two series. In thediscussion that follows, one piece of record information is classifiedinto one series.

In the classifying operation, the record information is mapped to theseries in accordance with a predetermined selection criterion. Forexample, a table mapping the series and the item serves as the selectioncriterion. Such a table is prepared. A series to which an item in therecord information belongs is searched for, and the hit series isattached to the item.

The standard event specifying module 150 is connected to the structuringmodule 140, and the standard event linking module 180. The standardevent specifying module 150 specifies, on a per series basis, an eventserving as a standard in the generation of a structure. The eventserving as the standard is hereinafter referred to as a standard event.

A user may specify the standard event using a user interface device suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a touchpanel. A predetermined standardevent may be input by reading that standard event.

The structuring module 140 is connected to the series classifying module120, the structuring information storage module 130, and the standardevent specifying module 150. The structuring module 140 performs astructuring operation on the record information classified by the seriesclassifying module 120 in accordance with the standard event specifiedby the standard event specifying module 150. The structuring operationrefers to an operation of structuring the record information into atree. The tree structure includes a leaf representing an item in therecord information, and nodes representing a standard event, and anintermediate period representing an interval from the standard event.Information identifying the series may be added to the tree structure.The tree structure constructed through the structuring operation isstored onto the structuring information storage module 130.

The structuring information storage module 130 is connected to thestructuring module 140, and the pattern extraction module 160. Thestructuring information storage module 130 stores the structured recordinformation with the series mapped thereto.

Optionally, the record information structured by the structuring module140 may be transferred to the pattern extraction module 160 not via thestructuring information storage module 130.

The pattern extraction module 160 is connected to the structuringinformation storage module 130 and the pattern storage module 170. Thepattern extraction module 160 extracts a common type from among multiplepieces of record information structured in the structuring operation ofthe structuring module 140. The type is hereinafter referred to as apattern. The “multiple pieces of structured record information” storedon the structuring information storage module 130 may be used. Even insuch a case, the information stored on the structuring informationstorage module 130 is the “multiple pieces of record informationstructured in the structuring operation of the structuring module 140.”In either case, the process target of the pattern extraction module 160is the “multiple pieces of record information structured in thestructuring operation of the structuring module 140.” The extractedpattern is extracted on a per series basis, and is then to be linked bythe standard event linking module 180 later. The extracted pattern isthus referred to as a pre-link partial pattern. Information indicatingevent information in which the partial pattern occurs, and the seriesfrom which the partial pattern is extracted is mapped to the partialpattern. The partial pattern with the information mapped thereto isstored on the pattern storage module 170.

If the record information managed in the medical institution is to behandled, the pattern extraction module 160 extracts a pattern common tothe items performed on multiple patients.

The pattern storage module 170 is connected to the pattern extractionmodule 160, and the standard event linking module 180. The patternstorage module 170 stores the pattern extracted by the patternextraction module 160. More specifically, the pattern storage module 170stores the partial pattern together with the information mapping thepartial pattern to the series.

Optionally, the pattern extracted by the pattern extraction module 160may be transferred to the standard event linking module 180 not via thepattern storage module 170.

The standard event linking module 180 is connected to the standard eventspecifying module 150, the pattern storage module 170, and the outputmodule 190. In accordance with the standard event specified by thestandard event specifying module 150, the standard event linking module180 links multiple patterns extracted by the pattern extraction module160. The “extracted pattern” from the pattern storage module 170 may beused. Even in such a case, the patterns stored on the pattern storagemodule 170 are the “multiple patterns extracted by the patternextraction module 160.” In either case, the process target of thestandard event linking module 180 is the “multiple patterns extracted bythe pattern extraction module 160.”

Using relation information of the standard event on each series, thestandard event linking module 180 generates information into whichpartial patterns of the series are linked. More specifically, patternsillustrated in FIGS. 13-16 are linked.

Of the patterns extracted by the pattern extraction module 160, thestandard event linking module 180 may also link patterns, having thesame set of items occurring in the patterns, in accordance with therelationship of the standard event.

Optionally, the standard event linking module 180 may link, to aposition within the structure of the pattern of the standard event ofthe series, a partial structure below that standard event of anotherpattern.

As a specific example of linking results, patterns of FIGS. 13 through16 are linked into tree structures of FIGS. 17 and 18.

The pattern extracted by the pattern extraction module 160 may betransferred to the output module 190 without being processed by thestandard event linking module 180.

The output module 190 is connected to the standard event linking module180. The output module 190 outputs the pattern extracted by the patternextraction module 160 or the pattern linked by the standard eventlinking module 180. The output operation performed by the output module190 includes printing an image of the generated tree structure on aprinter, displaying the image of the generated tree structure on adisplay, writing the information of the tree structure on a database ofa data server, storing the information of the tree structure on acomputer readable medium such as a memory card, and/or transferring theinformation of the tree structure to another information processingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the process of the exemplary embodiment. Theflowchart is described below with reference to a specific example.

In step S202, the record information receiving module 110 receives therecord information related to medical care.

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate an example of the record information ofthe medical care received by the record information receiving module110.

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate the record information of operations,examinations, and medications of three cases (three patients). A lateraldirection of FIGS. 3A through 3C denotes time and date, and a hatchedcolumn denotes a holiday.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, operation 331, and examination 334 areperformed and medicine agent Aa 337 is prescribed on the first day(Saturday 313). The next day (Sunday 314) is a holiday on which medicineagent Aa 338 is prescribed only. On the next day (day 315), medicineagent Aa 339 is prescribed only. On the day (Tuesday 316) three dayslater from the operation, treatment A 332 and examination 335 areperformed and medicine agent Aa 340 is prescribed. Throughout 3 daysthereafter (Wednesday 317 through Friday 319), medicine agent Ba isprescribed (medicine agent Ba 341 through medicine agent Ba 343). On theseventh day (Saturday 320) from the operation, examination 336 isperformed and medicine agent Ba 344 is prescribed. The next day (Sunday321) is a holiday on which medicine agent Ba 345 is prescribed only. Onthe next day (Monday 322), treatment B 333 is performed only. FIGS. 3Band 3C also illustrate similar medical care.

The data structure of the record information may be a table structure ormay be a list structure.

Each record of the record information related to the medical careincludes information identifying a patient and a hospitalization of thepatient, information identifying a specific treatment and medication,and information identifying the implementation time and date of thespecific treatment and medication. The record information receivingmodule 110 receives the record information of the medical care includingthese pieces of information, and transfers the record information to theseries classifying module 120.

In step S204, the series classifying module 120 classifies the recordinformation on a per series basis.

In accordance with a predetermined criterion, the series classifyingmodule 120 classifies the record information of the medical care intomultiple series. The standard event is identified on a per series basis.This operation may be performed by a user. Optionally, standard eventinformation of each series and information of a structuring method arepre-stored on a memory, and these pieces of information may be read.Also, the memory may store multiple pieces of standard event informationof each series, and multiple pieces of information of the structuringmethod. The user may specify the standard event information and theinformation of the structuring method for selection.

The record information of the medical care of FIGS. 3A through 3C isclassified into three series as described below.

(1) Operation and treatment

(2) Examination (3) Medication

In step S206, the standard event specifying module 150 specifies thestandard event.

In step S208, the structuring module 140 performs the structuringoperation.

The structuring module 140 acquires the record information of themedical care of each case, and the standard event information of eachseries from the standard event specifying module 150. In the examplediscussed here, the structuring module 140 acquires the standard eventand structuring information on a per series basis as described below.

The standard events of the series are described below.

(1) Standard event of the series: Series of operation and/or series oftreatment (one or both of the series of operation and the series oftreatment)

The first operation is set to be the standard event.

(2) Standard event of the series: Series of examination

The first operation is set to be a standard event a, the first treatmentafter the operation is set to be a standard event b, and the secondtreatment after the operation is set to be a standard event c.

(3) Standard event of the series: Series of medication

The first operation is set to be a standard event a, the firstexamination after the operation is set to be a standard event b, and thesecond examination after the operation is set to be a standard event c.

The structuring of the series is described below.

(a) Structuring of the series: Series of operation and/or series oftreatment (one or both of the series of operation and the series oftreatment)

The series is structured using relative time and date from theimplementation date of the standard event, and a range of the relativetime and date.

(b) Structuring of the series: Series of examination

The series is structured using relative time and date from theimplementation date of the standard event, and a range of the relativetime and date.

(c) Structuring of the series: Series of medication

The series is structured using relative time and date from theimplementation date of the standard event, and a range of the relativetime and date.

The structuring module 140 structures, on a per series basis, the recordinformation of the medical care received from the record informationreceiving module 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the series of operation and the series oftreatment (hereinafter referred to a series 1) is structured asillustrated in FIG. 4B. A node representing the relative time and datefrom the day of the operation and a node representing a range of therelative time and date are added in the tree structure of FIG. 4B. FIG.4A illustrates information for structuring extracted from FIG. 3A.

The record information is structured with operation 331 serving as thestandard event using the relative time and date, and the range of therelative time and date. More specifically, case 401 is a root, and anode of standard Ev 402 under the case 401 is a standard event. Arelative time and date range node 403 of within 10 days from thestandard event is placed under the standard Ev 402. A relative time anddate range node 404 within 1 week and a relative time and date node 410of 9 days later are placed under the node 403 of within 10 days. Arelative time and date range node 405 of within 4 days is placed underthe node 404 of within 1 week. A relative time and date node 406 of theday and a relative time and date node 408 of 3 days later are placedunder the node of 405 of within 4 days. A leaf 407 of operation of therecord information is placed under the node 406 of the day. A leaf 409of treatment A of the record information is placed under the node 408 of3 days later. A leaf 411 of treatment B of the record information isplaced under the node 410 of 9 days later. The nodes of relative timeand date and the nodes of the range of the relative time and date arepredetermined. The nodes of relative time and date and the nodes of therange of the relative time and date may be predetermined together withthe standard event. (The same is true of the tree structures discussedbelow).

The series of the examination of FIG. 3A (hereinafter referred to as aseries 2) is structured as illustrated in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5A illustratesinformation for structuring extracted from FIG. 3A.

The standard events are operation 331 of the series 1, and the first twoexaminations of the series 2 (examination 334 and examination 335).Structured are information of the first examination including therelative time and date from the standard event a (operation 331),information of the second examination including the relative time anddate from the standard event b (examination 334), and information of thethird examination including the relative time and date from the standardevent c (examination 335). More specifically, case 501 is a root. Placedunder the case 501 are as standard events a node 502 of standard Eva, anode 506 of standard Evb, and a node 511 of standard Evc. A relativetime and date range node 503 of (within 1 day) a (representing within 1day from the standard event a) is placed under the node 502 of standardEva. A relative time and date node 504 of (the day) a (representing ofthe standard event a) is placed under the node 503 of (within 1 day) a.A leaf 505 of the record information for the examination is placed underthe node 504 of (the day) a. A relative time and date range node 507 of(within 4 days) b from the standard event b is placed under the node 506of standard Evb. A relative time and date range node 508 of (third orfourth day) b from the standard event b is placed under the node 507 of(within 4 days) b. A relative time and date node 509 of (the third day)b is placed under the node 508 of (the third or fourth day) b. A leaf510 of the record information for the examination is placed under thenode 509 of (the third day) b. A relative time and date range node 512of (within 2 days of the fourth day) c from the standard event c isplaced under standard event Evc 511. A relative time and date node 513of (4 days later) c is placed under the node of within 3 days of (thefourth day) c. A leaf 514 of the record information for the examinationis placed under the node 513 of (4 days later) c.

A series of medication of FIG. 3A (hereinafter referred to as a series3) is structured as illustrated in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6A illustratesinformation for structuring extracted from FIG. 3A. A node having alabel of a medicine class name “medicine A” is connected to an actualmedicine agent name Aa. A node having a label of a medicine class name“medicine B” is connected to an actual medicine agent name Bb. Thestructuring is performed with the label having a broader concept andplaced above the specific medicine agent name. A conversion processbetween the label and the specific medicine agent name may be performedusing a table that maps a label having the broader concept to a specificmedicine agent name. Referring to the table, the specific medicine nameis converted to the broader concept label. The conversion process isperformed in order to cover variations in the specific medicine agentname. A node 640 of stopping medication indicating the date on which themedication is terminated is also additionally structured.

The standard events include three examinations of the series 2(examination 334, examination 335, and examination 336). Structuredherein are information related to medicine agent Aa including therelative time and date from the standard event a (examination 334),information related to medicine agent Ba including the relative time anddate from the standard event b (examination 335), and informationrelated to the medication stopping 640 including the relative time anddate from the standard event c (examination 336). More specifically, acase 601 is the root. Placed under the case 601 are a relative time anddate range node 602 of (within 4 days) A from the standard event a and arelative time and date range node 635 of (4 through 6 days later) B.Placed under the node 602 of (within 4 days) A are a relative time anddate range node 617 of (3 days later) A from the standard event a, and anode 603 of standard Eva as a standard event. A relative time and daterange node 604 of (within 1 week) a from the standard event a is placedunder the node 603 of standard Eva. Placed under the node 604 of (within1 week) a are a relative time and date node 605 of (the day) a of thestandard event a, a relative time and date node 608 of (1 day later) a,a relative time and date node 611 of (2 days later) a, and a relativetime and date node 614 of (3 days later) a. A node 606 of medicine nameA as a class name of medicine agent is placed under the node 605 of (theday) a. A leaf 607 of the record information of medicine agent Aa isplaced under the node 606 of the medicine A. Placed similarly under thenode 608 of (1 day later) a, the node 611 of (2 days later) a, and thenode 614 of (3 days later) a are a node 609 of the medicine A and a leaf610 of the medicine agent Aa, a node 612 of the medicine A and a leaf613 of the medicine agent Aa, and a node 615 of the medicine A and aleaf 616 of the medicine agent Aa, respectively. A node 618 of standardEvb as a standard event is placed under the node 617 of (3 days later) Afrom the standard event a. A relative time and date node range 619 of(within 1 week) b from the standard event b is placed under the node 618of standard Evb. Placed under the node 619 of (within 1 week) b are arelative time and date node 620 of (1 day later) b, a relative time anddate node 623 of (2 days later) b, a relative time and date node 626 of(3 days later) b, a relative time and date node 629 of (4 days later) b,and a relative time and date node 632 of (5 days later) b. A node 621 ofmedicine name B as a class name of medicine agent is placed under thenode 620 of (1 day later) b. A leaf 622 of the record information ofmedicine agent Ba is placed under the node 621 of the medicine B. Placedsimilarly under the node 623 of (2 day later) b, the node 626 of (3 dayslater) b, and the node 629 of (4 days later) b, and the node 632 of (5days later) b are a node 624 of the medicine B and a leaf 625 of themedicine agent Ba, a node 627 of the medicine B and a leaf 628 of themedicine agent Ba, a node 630 of the medicine B and a leaf 631 of themedicine agent Ba, and a node 633 of the medicine B and a leaf 634 ofthe medicine agent Ba, respectively. A relative time and date range node636 of (5 days later) B from the standard event a is placed under thenode 635 of (4 through 6 days later) B. A node 637 of standard Evc as astandard event is placed under the node 635 of (5 days later) B. Arelative time and date range node 638 of within 2 full days from thestandard event c is placed under the node 637 of standard Evc. Arelative time and date node 639 of 1 full day later is placed under thenode 638 of within 2 full days. A leaf 640 of medication stopping(information indicating the day on which medication is complete) isplaced under the node 639 of 1 full day.

The nodes above the node 603 of standard Eva, the node 618 of standardEvb, and the node 637 of standard Evc indicate the relationship betweenthe standard events. Such nodes may be omitted. The nodes below the node603 of standard Eva, the node 618 of standard Evb, and the node 637 ofstandard Evc indicate the relationship in the relative time and date andthe relative time and date range in the standard events thereof.

Similarly, the series of operation and the series of treatment of FIG.3B are structured as illustrated in FIG. 7B. The series of examinationis structured as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The series of medication isstructured as illustrated in FIG. 9C.

Similarly, the series of operation and the series of treatment of FIG.3C are structured as illustrated in FIG. 10B. The series of examinationis structured as illustrated in FIG. 11B. The series of medication isstructured as illustrated in FIG. 12B.

In step S210, the structuring information storage module 130 stores thestructuring information.

In step S212, the pattern extraction module 160 extracts a pattern.

The pattern extraction module 160 extracts a partial structure patternfrom information structured on a per series basis. If information isstructured into a tree in the exemplary embodiment, the pattern may beextracted using techniques such as TreeMiner, Dryade, MB3-miner, orTRIPS.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of pattern that is a partial structurecommonly shared by and extracted from the three tree structures, i.e.,the tree structure of FIG. 4B, the tree structure of FIG. 7B, and thetree structure of FIG. 10B.

Similarly, FIG. 14 illustrates an example of pattern that is a partialstructure commonly shared by and extracted from the three treestructures, i.e., the tree structure of FIG. 5B, the tree structure ofFIG. 8B, and the tree structure of FIG. 11B.

Similarly, FIG. 15 illustrates an example of pattern that is a partialstructure commonly shared by and extracted from the three treestructures, i.e., the tree structure of FIG. 6B, the tree structure ofFIG. 9B, and the tree structure of FIG. 12B.

Since the tree structure of FIG. 15 has a partial structure formed ofthe nodes common to the three tree structures (of FIG. 6B, FIG. 9B, andFIG. 12B), an extracted pattern includes only the classification ofmedicine not the medicine agent name.

Another example of the pattern extraction is illustrated. The treestructure of FIG. 16 is generated from the three tree structures (ofFIG. 6B, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 12B). In the pattern, nodes of “medicine A”for the 4 days (nodes 1605-1608 of medicine A) are placed and connectedto a node 1604 of (within 1 week) a without nodes identifying therelative dates (node 1505 of (the day) a, node 1507 of (1 day later) a,node 1509 of (2 days later) a, and node 1511 of (3 days later) a in FIG.15). If a structure common to two of the three tree structures (the treestructures of FIG. 9B and FIG. 12B) is extracted, the number of nodes of“medicine A” placed below and connected to the node 1604 of (within 1week) a is five.

In step S214, the pattern storage module 170 stores the extractedpattern.

In step S216, the standard event linking module 180 performs a linkingoperation between the patterns.

The standard event linking module 180 links the extracted patterns beingidentical in a set of cases (i.e., the patterns generated from therecord information of multiple patients and having the same set of itemsappearing within the patterns) in accordance with the relationship ofthe standard events, and then transfers the linking results to theoutput module 190.

For example, two tree structures may be respectively linked inaccordance with relation information 1 and relation information 2. Therelation information 1 indicates that information of a node 1307 ofoperation and two treatments (node 1308 of treatment A and node 1309 oftreatment B) within the tree structure of FIG. 13 is related to astandard of time node (node of (within 1 day) a) within the treestructure of FIG. 14. The relation information 2 indicates thatinformation of examinations (node 1404 of examination, node 1408 ofexamination, and node 1411 of examination) within the tree structure ofFIG. 15 is related to a standard of the time and date node (node 1504 of(within 1 week) a) within the tree structure of FIG. 15. Morespecifically, the relation information 1 relates the node 1307 ofoperation in the series of operation and treatment (series 1) to (thetime and date information) a (node 1403 of (within 1 day) a) in theseries of examination (series 2). The relation information 2 relates thenode 1404 of examination (first examination) in the series ofexamination (series 2) to (the time and date information) a (node 1504of (within 1 week) a) in the series of medication (series 3). In anotherexample of relating an item (a node as a leaf) within one tree structureto a node as a standard event within another tree structure, therelation information 1 may relate the node 1307 of operation in theseries of operation and treatment (series 1) to the node 1402 ofstandard Eva in the series of examination (series 2), and the relationinformation 2 may relate the node 1404 of examination (firstexamination) in the series of examination (series 2) to the node 1503 ofstandard Eva in the series of medication (series 3).

These pieces of information may be determined in advance, or may bedetermined in response to an operation by the user.

Using the relation information 1, the standard event linking module 180links, to a position within a tree structure of a pattern of thestandard event in the series 1, a partial structure below that standardevent of another pattern in the series 2. Similarly, using the relationinformation 2, the standard event linking module 180 links, to aposition within a tree structure of a pattern of the standard event inthe series 2, a partial structure below that standard event of anotherpattern in the series 3. The patterns of the series 1, the series 2, andthe series 3 are thus linked.

More specifically, the partial structure including the node 1403 of(within 1 day) a and lower nodes in the tree structure of the pattern ofthe series 2 (the tree structure of FIG. 14) is linked to the positionof the node 1307 of operation in the tree structure of the pattern ofthe series (the tree structure of FIG. 13). Similarly, the partialstructure including the node 1503 of standard Eva and lower nodes in thetree structure of the pattern of the series 3 (the tree structure ofFIG. 15) is linked to the position of the node 1404 of examination inthe tree structure of the pattern of the series 2 (the tree structure ofFIG. 14).

FIG. 17 illustrates process information resulting from linking thestandard event information. The process information is generated frominformation of nodes included in the patterns extracted from each series(the patterns illustrated in FIGS. 13 through 15) and informationresulting from calculating the information of the relative time and dateand the relative time and date range. The process information thusindicates horizontally connected information of series, i.e.,information of the relationship between series. For example, theinformation resulting from calculation is the time and date information(i.e., within 4 days) in relations 1751 through 1760.

FIG. 18 illustrates another example of process information resultingfrom linking the standard event information. As illustrated in FIG. 18,information illustrated in FIG. 15 and information illustrated in FIG.16 are linked to the series 3. Medicines A of 1703 through 1706 underrelation 1755 in the lower left portion of FIG. 17 indicate day 1through day 4. Medicines A of 1803 through 1806 under relation 1855 inthe lower left portion of FIG. 18 indicate simply within 1 week fromnode 1802 of examination. Relation 1856 indicates one of medicines A of1803 through 1806 enclosed by medicine A of 1808 and medicine A of 1809.

In step S218, the output module 190 performs an output operation. Forexample, the output module 190 displays graphs illustrated in FIGS. 17and 18 or the like on a display or the like.

A hardware structure of a computer executing a program as the exemplaryembodiment is illustrated in FIG. 19. Specifically, the computer may bea personal computer or a server. The computer may include as a processora central processing unit (CPU) 1901, and, as memory devices, arandom-access memory (RAM) 1902, a read-only memory (ROM) 1903, and HD1904. The HD 1904 is a hard disk, for example. The CPU 1901 executesprograms including the control module 105, the type classifying module120, the structuring module 140, the pattern extraction module 160, andthe standard event linking module 180. The computer thus includes theCPU 1901, the RAM 1902 storing the data and the program, the ROM 1903storing a program starting the computer, and the HD 1904 as an auxiliarymemory device. The computer further includes a receiving device 1906receiving data in response to an operation performed on a keyboard, amouse, or a touchpanel by a user, an output device 1905 such as acathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid-crystal display (LCD), acommunication line interface 1907 such as a network interface card forconnection with a communication network, and a bus 1908 interconnectingthese elements for data exchange. Multiple computers may be connectedvia a network.

A software computer program as the exemplary embodiment may be read ontoa hardware structure system and then executed with the hardwarestructure system in cooperation with software resources.

The hardware structure of FIG. 19 is illustrated for exemplary purposesonly. The exemplary embodiment is not limited to the structure of FIG.19. Any structure is acceptable as long as the structure implements themodules described with reference to the exemplary embodiment. Forexample, one of the modules may be constructed of a particular hardwarestructure (such as application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). Oneof the modules may belong to an external system and may be connected tothe system of the exemplary embodiment via a communication line.Multiple systems, each illustrated in FIG. 19, may be interconnected viaa communication line such that the systems operate in concert with eachother. The system may be incorporated in each of the personal computer,digital home appliance, photocopier, facsimile machine, scanner,printer, complex machine (serving at least two of the scanner, theprinter, the photocopier, and the facsimile machine).

In the discussion of the exemplary embodiment, the record informationmanaged in medical institutions is handled. The record information otherthan this type of information may be handled. For example, the recordinformation of the exemplary embodiment may include record informationhandled in law firms, educational record information managed ineducation institutions and related to the education of students.

The above-described program may be supplied in a stored state on arecording medium. The program may be provided via a communicationnetwork. In such a case, the above-described program may be understoodas an invention of a “computer readable recording medium storing theprogram.”

The “computer readable recording medium storing the program” refers to acomputer readable recording medium storing the program, and used toinstall the program, to execute the program, or to distribute theprogram.

The recording media include digital versatile disk (DVD), compact disk(CD), Blu-ray disk (registered trademark), magnetooptical disk (MO),flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM),electronically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM(registered trademark)), flash memory, and random-access memory (RAM).The DVDs include “DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM” complying with thestandard formulated by the DVD forum, and “DVD+R and DVD+RW” complyingwith DVD+RW standards. The CDs include read-only CD (CD-ROM), recordableCD-R, and rewritable CD-RW.

The program in whole or in part may be stored on the recording mediumfor storage and distribution. The program in whole or in part may betransmitted via a transfer medium. The transfer media include a wirednetwork, a wireless network, or a combination thereof. The wirednetworks include a local-area network (LAN), a metropolitan-area network(MAN), a wide-area network (WAN), the Internet, an intranet, and anextranet. The program in whole or in part may be transmitted over acarrier wave.

The program may be part of another program, or may be stored on therecording medium together with another program. The program may be splitand split programs may then be stored on the recording medium. Theprogram may be processed in any fashion before being stored. Forexample, the program may be compressed or encrypted before storage.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a receiver unit thatreceives record information related to a record, the record includinginformation about an item and time and date information about time anddate on which the item has been preformed; a classifying unit thatclassifies the record information received by the receiver unit into atleast one of a plurality of series; a standard event specifying unitthat specifies a standard event on a per series basis, the standardevent serving as a standard in the generation of a structure; astructuring unit that performs a structuring operation on the recordinformation, classified by the classifying unit, in accordance with thestandard event specified by the standard event specifying unit; apattern extraction unit that extracts a common pattern from a pluralityof pieces of record information that are structured in the structuringoperation of the structuring unit; and an output unit that outputs thepattern extracted by the pattern extraction unit.
 2. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a linkingunit that links a plurality of patterns, extracted by the patternextraction unit, in accordance with the standard event specified by thestandard event specifying unit, wherein the output unit outputs thelinking result provided by the linking unit.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in accordance with arelationship of the standard events, the linking unit links thepatterns, extracted by the pattern extraction unit, and having the sameset of items occurring within the patterns.
 4. The informationprocessing apparatus according to one of claim 2, wherein the linkingunit links, to a position within the structure of the pattern of thestandard event in the series, a partial structure positioned below thestandard event of another pattern.
 5. The information processingapparatus according to one of claim 3, wherein the linking unit links,to a location within the structure of the pattern of the standard eventin the series, a partial structure positioned below the standard eventof another pattern.
 6. An information processing method, comprising:receiving record information related to a record, the record includinginformation about an item and time and date information about time anddate on which the item has been preformed; classifying the receivedrecord information into at least one of a plurality of series;specifying a standard event on a per series basis, the standard eventserving as a standard in the generation of a structure; performing astructuring operation on the classified record information in accordancewith the specified standard event; extracting a common pattern from aplurality of pieces of record information that are structured in thestructuring operation; and outputting the extracted pattern.
 7. Acomputer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to executea process for processing information, the process comprising: receivingrecord information related to a record, the record including informationabout an item and time and date information about time and date on whichthe item has been preformed; classifying the received record informationinto at least one of a plurality of series; specifying a standard eventon a per series basis, the standard event serving as a standard in thegeneration of a structure; performing a structuring operation on theclassified record information in accordance with the specified standardevent; extracting a common pattern from a plurality of pieces of recordinformation that are structured in the structuring operation; andoutputting the extracted pattern.